What is AD&D “Feel”?

My entire subjective list, from someone who started playing in 1980. I will update whenever I have ideas.

Definitely important

• Dungeons

• STR, DEX, CON, INT, WIS, CHR

• HP, XP

• Polyhedra dice

• The phrase “Dungeon Master”

• Players describe what their characters do rather than “just roll”.

• Fighters get to roll a d100 if they have a 18 strength

• Spell memorization

• Advancement is via Class (not Feats or Skills)

• Cool abilities come from Magic Items

• Class and Race are independent

• Race limits Class

• Limited Races and Classes

• Fighters, Thieves, Magic Users,

• Paladins, Rangers, Druids, Monks

• Rangers get 2d8 Hit Points at first level

• Slow advancement

• Generous treasure

• Unfair monsters that take treasure

• 9 Alignments

• Time management

• “Levels” everywhere

• Retainers at higher levels - higher levels somewhat confer social status

• Rules for building castles

• Training and paying to gain levels

• Humanoids that are not playable

• Half-Orcs

• Players map dungeons from DM descriptions

• Players identify with their PCs

• Being stupid can be deadly, playing well much less so

• Sparse Black & White Illustrations

• Campaign Driven

• Modules

Somewhat important

• Dragons

• Three books, one for the DM, one for the Players, and one full of Monsters

• Miniatures

• Turning Undead / Holy Symbol

• Race limits Stats

• Stats limit Class

• Money gives Experience

• Platinum and Electrum Pieces

• Assassins, Illusionists

• Multiclassing

• Armour gets better as the number gets lower

• Lots of looking rolls up in tables

• Random Encounters in Dungeons

• Infravision

• Planes

• Halflings

• Campaign Settings

Not important

• Psionics

• Barbarians

• Ultravision

• Gnomes

• Color illustrations